Protect Me, Alpha King

Betrayed.

That was what I felt now as I saw the alpha king run inside right at the mention of Zenith's name. Without remembering, I was with him that it was me whom he had just promised of my proclamation as his queen.

Maxxwell made a promise. Denaro vowed that he would choose me even though Zenith would be alive.

Hope crumbled right in front of me.

I looked away.

I should have known. All along, it was still Zenith on his mind. Nobody else.

No matter what I do, no one will choose me in the end.

'Go after him, River!" Sunflower begged. “Don't let him see that woman! It is we that Maxxwell loves. He said he liked us, didn't he? So please...run after him. Go after him!"

I inhaled deeply as I struggled to maintain my composure.

Funny how I could stand still and did not cry, just like how Sunflower was crying now. It hurt me to see her like that. It was not the Sunflower I knew.

'Sun. If someone wants us, we don't have to beg for that person to stay,’ I said, trying to coax her. “Let's observe first, okay? I promise I will protect you."

Sunflower only cried in reply.

"R-River?"

I was suddenly brought back to reality. Reminded that I was left with the twins, and the way they looked at me felt like I was the pities woman ever.

The man who promised to proclaim me as his queen forgot me. Just. Like. That.

I cleared my throat.

No one should know my pain.

Trying to hide my pain behind my smile, I faced them.

"When did she arrive?" I inquired. I was glad that my voice did not shake.

"Are you really o-okay?" Clara raised a question.

Flare pinched her sister's side, which the other answered with a pained expression.

"Nothing to worry about, Clara. All is well."

There was nothing good about my situation. My position as the future queen of the kingdom of Vernice was starting to compromise because of Zenith's appearance.

I still did not know if I would be happy to see her. Why did she have to show now that everything was falling into its rightful place?

"Zenith appeared In the morning. We thought we saw a ghost that time, River. We also believed she was dead and imagined our surprise when she arrived.”

"Was she with someone?"

The twins shook their heads. "No. She was alone."

"Are you sure it was Zenith and not some kind of sorcery fooling your eyes? Perhaps that someone was only fooling you."

They smiled sadly at me.

"I wished it was. But we can confirm that it was Zenith. In flesh and blood, River. She told us our sins and how it was partly our fault why she chose to hide after that fateful night and pretended to be dead after a couple of years. It was her. None other than.”

She shivered together.

"Really?" was all I asked, even if my insides were shaking.

I have to see for myself if it was Zenith. If we could pass as twins. It would not be difficult to identify her.

With that in mind, I entered inside.

When I stepped inside the palace, I noticed the servants whispering to each other. Their murmurs could pass as bees buzzed.

And right in front of me was the woman I was curious about—Zenith. She was facing me while the alpha king's back was to me.

Looking back at Zenith felt like I was staring at the mirror. They said before that the difference between us was our hair, and now, I could testify that it was true. She had straight, ebony hair in contrast with my rusty curls. And the way she looked at the alpha king was filled with longing and love.

They looked happy and content.

I stumbled back.

My wolf was still howling in the background, devastated at the sight of the alpha king holding the woman's hand while checking if there was a scratch on her body or not.

At some point, another part of me was finally ready to give him my heart. But then Zenith came back from the dead.

I felt someone's hand on my shoulder

Delta Isagani

Looking at his hand, I asked, "What are you doing here?"

He patted my shoulder and deserted it.

Did I understand right that he was consoling me?

"You okay?" he asked, barely mumbling.

Okay?

Really?

I scoffed. "I am, but not my wolf," I answered.

I saw him glaring at the other servants who wanted nothing but to know the juiciest news so that they would spread it among the servants. I could visualize their headline—the battle between the first-fated mate and the second-chance mate.

Scared at Delta Isagani, they scampered and dispersed, leaving behind the four of us.

"I was also shocked. We thought she was dead.”

I gave him a small smile even if I did not understand why he was giving me small talk.

"But the alpha king did not believe it and continued clinging to that until the end and looked at where it led him into. He just proved that all along, he was right for his belief.”

I wondered what would happen to me now that the rightful queen was back. Will the alpha king toss me aside now?

I should have never believed that he would proclaim me as his. It only brought nothing but disappointment. And why did it feel as if my chest was constricting? As if I was stabbed a million times? Was this emotion coming from Sunflower? Or mine?

"The alpha king will probably make you his official concubine, River.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I stared at him. Did I yell the question out?

"Concubine?"

That would be a blow to my ego. I did almost everything but reached only that position? I wanted the power next to the alpha king.

"Yes. There were instances in which it also happened. There were a few alpha kings who had two fated mates."

"I don't want it. I better go back to my previous pack.”

Facing Alpha Wade will be better than seeing the alpha king and Zenith.

I did not want to deal with the everyday situation of watching Zenith and Maxxwell happily in love. Departing is the least I could do for Sunflower.

Is it only for Sunflower or for your heart also?

I no longer knew. I was torn and devastated. As if I was back again to the pain of getting rejected. Delta Isagani's expression softened.

"I appreciate your concern, but save it for yourself, Delta Isagani. There's no difference between what is happening in our lives, anyway. Your lovely Lady Juliana was again betrothed to someone except you."

"She never wanted a mate with a commoner's blood,” he muttered sadly.

"And my mate does not want me anymore. That makes us even, Delta Isagani.”

As if Maxxwell heard what I said, he glanced over his shoulder and saw me with Delta Isagani.

His eyes were conflicted, and went back to Zenith.

"River."

Zenith looked in my direction and gasped. "Who is she, Your Majesty?"

I closed my eyes. Damn it. Why did she have the sweetest voice?

Zenith left the alpha king's side and strolled towards me. Acknowledging her authority, I gave her my courtesy bow and said, "I am no one but your humble servant, Your Grace. I am the alpha king's personal attendant.”

"Personal attendant?" She sniffed me until her eyes stayed at my mark.

My heart hammered against my chest. Every she-wolf can also see it was from the alpha king's bite. Zenith's eyes suddenly watered. "Your Majesty," she called.

"Yes, my—" He looked at me and changed his next words. "Yes, Zenith?"

"Why did she bear your mark while I did not?" Her voice trembled.

It was then that I realized that Zenith had no marks on her neck.